1: a curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to a straight line in its surface: a curve formed by a point moving so that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed line2: something that is bowl-shaped

How do you use it?

Parabolas are often seen in the designs of bridges and arches.

Are you a word wiz?

"Parabola" comes from New Latin, a type of Latin used since the end of the medieval period especially in scientific description and classification. But the word ultimately traces back to the Greek word "parabole." What do you think "parabole" means?

A. intersection

B. comparison

C. bowl

D. curve

If a comparison of all the answers led you to choose B, you chose correctly: the Greek word "parabole" means "comparison." English includes many New Latin words that have their origins in Greek, and many of them are names of flowers. "Azalea," for example, is a New Latin word that traces back to the Greek word "azein," meaning "to parch, dry"; "geranium" traces back to "geranos," meaning "crane"; and "hydrangea" traces back to the Greek "angeion," meaning "vessel."